Taste of the Championship is a premium dining experience and fundraising event on the eve of the CFP National Championship, offering attendees the opportunity to indulge in gourmet food and drink prepared by chefs local to Houston and the community hosting the 2024 national championship game. This premium event serves as a unique combination of an exploration of local cuisine and a celebration of the teaching profession. All proceeds benefit the CFP Foundation's Extra Yard for Teachers platform.
Sunday, January 7, 2024 • 5 p.m. CT
Union Station at Minute Maid Park
501 Crawford Street
Houston, TX 77002
CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS!
USE CODE CFP2024 FOR $100 OFF!
2024 FEATURED RESTAURANTS
The restaurant lineup for the 2024 edition of Taste of the Championship has been curated by James Beard Award-winning Chef Chris Shepherd.
Midwest-raised, James Beard Award-winning Chef Chris Shepherd has helped change the landscape of the Houston culinary scene since opening Underbelly in 2012. He built the restaurant to support the Houston food community and its suppliers by buying local and drawing inspiration from the people and cultures that live in the city. Thanks to Shepherd’s vision and passion, Underbelly was a James Beard Award semifinalist for Best New Restaurant, was named one of the best new restaurants in the country by Bon Appetit and Esquire and was named one of 38 essential restaurants in America by Eater. Shepherd was named one of the 10 Best New Chefs in America by Food & Wine in 2013 and was then awarded the 2014 James Beard Award for Best Chef: Southwest.
Shepherd was a semifinalist for the James Beard Award for Outstanding Chef in 2019 and was named Robb Report‘s Chef of the Year the same year. Shepherd’ first cookbook, "Cook Like a Local: Flavors that Will Change the Way You Cook—and See the World," was published by Clarkson Potter in September 2019 and was nominated for a 2020 James Beard Foundation Book Award.
Shepherd began his fine dining career at Brennan’s of Houston, where he spent seven years in the kitchen and then ran the wine program for two. He left Brennan’s in 2006 to open Catalan Food & Wine, which was named one of Esquire’s Best New Restaurants in America that same year.
Shepherd’s foundation Southern Smoke has distributed more than $9.9 million directly to people in the food and beverage industry in need via the Emergency Relief Fund.
93 Till |
Blood Bros BBQ |
Brennan's of Houston |
Burger Bodega |
Cali Sandwich & Pho |
ChòpnBlok |
Coltivare |
Craft Pita |
Crawfish & Noodles |
Fluff Bake Bar |
Frenchy's Chicken |
Fungs Kitchen |
Gatlin's BBQ |
Goodnight Hospitality |
Josephine's Gulf Coast Kitchen |
Le Jardinier |
Leaf & Grain |
Little's Oyster Bar |
Maximo |
Navy Blue |
Phat Eatery |
Pondicheri |
Riel |
Saigon Pagolac |
State of Grace |
Street 2 Kitchen |
The Original Ninfa's |
The Waffle Bus |
Toasted Coconut |
Truth BBQ |
Winnie's |
ABOUT THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF FOUNDATION
The College Football Playoff (CFP) Foundation is a non-profit organization that serves as the community-engagement arm of the CFP, supporting education across the country. The purpose of the CFP Foundation lies in supporting PK-12 education across the country. The CFP Foundation works in partnership with institutions of higher education, sports organizations, corporations and nonprofits to execute its initiatives and support positive educational outcomes.
CLICK HERE TO DONATE!
PAST PARTICIPATING CHEFS & RESTAURANTS
2022 INDIANAPOLIS** |
St. Elmo’s Steakhouse |
Mesh on Mass |
Union 50 |
Beast |
Taste of Innova Wings + Greens |
Roosters |
Teas Me Café |
Tinker Coffer |
Punkin’s Pies Sweet Treats |
** Out of precaution due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the roster of chefs and restaurants was reduced for the 2022 edition of Taste of the Championship.
* Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the College Football Playoff paused Taste of the Championship for the 2021 national championship game in Miami.
2020 NEW ORLEANS |
Acme Oyster House |
Arnaud’s |
Bon Ton Café |
Brennan's |
Central City BBQ |
Coquette - Carlos Quinonez |
Dickie Brennan & Company |
Galatorie's |
Gianna |
Jack Rose |
Josephine Estelle |
Kevin Belton |
La Petite Grocery |
Liberty's Kitchen |
Napoleon House |
One Fifth Gulf Coast |
Peche |
Steve Slaton |
Thalia - Denzel Brown |
Turkey and The Wolf |
2019 BAY AREA |
Bourbon Steak - Michael Mina and Mario Beaubraut |
Cal Mare - Adam Sobel |
Eckrich/Nathan's |
Eckrich/Smithfield |
Casino Del Sol - Ryan Clark |
Gerron Hurts - Masterchef Champion |
Ike's Sandwiches |
International Smoke - Jeremy McMillan |
Good Foods Kitchen - Jenn Robbins |
Scott's Seafood - Samuel Reyes |
Chris Lusk |
Sushi Confidential - Randy Musterer |
Trailblazer Tavern - Wade Ueoka |
2018 ATLANTA |
5Church - Scotley Innis |
Bar Americano - Adam Waller |
Canoe - Matthew Basford |
Carribbean Room at Ponchartrain - Chris Lusk |
Casino Del Sol - Ryan Clark |
Cooks & Soldiers - Matthew Ridgway |
Chef Kent Rathbun |
Donetto - Michael Perez |
Ford Fry |
Fox Bros. BAR-B-Q - Jonathan + Justin Fox |
Good Foods Kitchen - Jenn Robbins |
Gunshow - Joey Ward |
Hampton + Hudson - Savannah Sasser |
Jasmine Stewart (Masterchef Junior Champion) |
Kevin Gilliespie |
King + Duke - EJ Hodgkinson |
KR Steakbar - Jessica Gamble |
Chef Allen's Cafe Allen Susser |
Rathbun's - Rathbun's - Kevin Rathbun |
Richard's Southern Fried - Todd Richards |
Union - Bruce Kalman |
Saltyard - Nick Leahy |
Solis Hotel - Derrick Green |
Taqueria Del Sol - Eddie Hernandeze |
The Federal - Shaun Doty |
The Optimist |
Twisted Soul Cookhouse & Pours - Deborah VanTrece |
Wrecking Ball Brewpub - Terry Koval |
Zac Brown Band - Rusty Hamlin |
2017 TAMPA |
717 South |
Ava |
Bar & Market |
Bern's Steak House |
Boca Kitchen |
Chef Allen's Café - Allen Susser |
Cigar City Brew Pub |
Datz |
Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse - David Holben |
Elements at Santuary Resort - Beau MacMillan |
Fodder & Shine |
Goody Goody |
Haven |
Mad Dogs and Englishmen |
Mise en Place |
Parkshore Grill |
Rathbun's - Chef Kevin Rathbun |
Restaurant R'evolution - Chris Lusk |
Roux |
Columbia |
The Refinery |
Ulele |
Union Restaurant/Knead & Co. Pasta Bar - Bruce Kalmen |
2016 ARIZONA |
Aventura - Masood Shirmohammadi |
Binkley's - Kevin Binkley |
Chef Allen's Café - Alan Susser |
Chef Michael Turcotte |
Christopher's and Crush Lounge - Christopher Gross |
Cypress Inn - Paul Kerr (Alabama) |
Eddie's House - Eddie Matney |
Elements at Santuary Resort - Beau MacMillan |
Hamilton High School - Michael Turcotte |
Mad Dogs & Englishmen - Paul Shaver |
Phoenix Convention Center - Masood Shirmohammadi |
Rathbun's - Chef Kevin Rathbun |
Restaurant R'evolution - Chris Lusk |
Rick Erwin Dining Group - Jason McCarthy (Clemson) |
Sotto - Steve Samson |
Taggia at FireSky- Massimo de Francesca |
The Mission - Matthew Carter |
The Phoenician - Rick Boyer |
Top of the Rock - Gregory Wiener |
Virtù - Gio Osso |
2015 NORTH TEXAS |
The Second Floor - Scott Gottlich |
Barcelona Restaurant and Bar - Jacob Hough |
Casa Rubia - Omar Flores |
Chamberlain's Steak and Fish - Richard Chamberlain |
Chef Allen's Café - Alan Susser |
Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse - David Holben |
Elements at Santuary Resort - Beau MacMillan |
Grit Kitchen and Wine - Ashley Hawkins |
Rathbun's - Chef Kent Rathbun |
Mad Dogs & Englishmen - Paul Shaver |
Neiman Marcus - Chefs Kevin Garvin and Anita Hirsch |
Off the Bone Barbeque - Dwight Harvey |
Restauran R'evolution - Chris Lusk |
Salum - Abraham Salum |
Shinsei - Shikoku |
Sotto - Steve Samson |
Suze Restaurant - Ernie Mendoza |